Comments on: France travel tipshttp://www.drvino.com/2006/08/01/france-travel-tips/
wine talk that goes down easyFri, 27 Feb 2015 14:14:07 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1By: Anonymoushttp://www.drvino.com/2006/08/01/france-travel-tips/#comment-350
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:55:00 +0000http://70.103.16.189/~drvinoco/wordpress/2006/08/france-travel-tips/#comment-350For years I have avoided the foreign purchase fees on credit cards by using the debit card on my brokerage account. They get the industry exchange rate and no percentage fees!
]]>By: Dr. Vinohttp://www.drvino.com/2006/08/01/france-travel-tips/#comment-351
Mon, 07 Aug 2006 07:09:00 +0000http://70.103.16.189/~drvinoco/wordpress/2006/08/france-travel-tips/#comment-351g58- yes, the NYC subway is also hot in August but ah what relief in the subway car–when the AC is working that is…

Gayle, thanks for that tip. I have pasted a link to your story here since it got cut off on the comments section.

Cheers,

]]>By: Gayle Keckhttp://www.drvino.com/2006/08/01/france-travel-tips/#comment-352
Fri, 04 Aug 2006 15:56:00 +0000http://70.103.16.189/~drvinoco/wordpress/2006/08/france-travel-tips/#comment-352Good point about the credit card 3% rip-off. There are a few cards that don’t charge the 3% fee (certain Capital One and MBNA cards, for example).

Another scam to watch out for are places that automatically convert your charge to dollars at the point of sale. DEMAND THAT THEY RE-RUN THE TRANSACTION IN LOCAL CURRENCY. Otherwise, you will get a terrible exchange rate and your credit card may also tack on a fee. Typically, this happens at restos and shops frequented by tourists, and is much more prevalent in Ireland than France. To read more about the burgeoning scam, see my story in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/29/AR2005072900927.html

]]>By: g58http://www.drvino.com/2006/08/01/france-travel-tips/#comment-353
Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:24:00 +0000http://70.103.16.189/~drvinoco/wordpress/2006/08/france-travel-tips/#comment-353Bois de Boulogne is another place — more wooded and breezy than Jardin de Luxembourg — for a picnic. It’s been cleaned up a bit, and quite recommendable — at least during the day.

I must say though… I just got back from NYC and having AC in the subway cars makes things no less odorific when you get periodically stranded on platforms that are 135 degrees! Whew!